Japanese retailer Muji expands corporate office

Muji USA, the U.S. arm of the Japan-based home goods and apparel store, is growing its corporate office space in the city.

The company just signed on for 6,250 square feet at 250 W. 39th St., more than doubling the roughly 2,900 square feet it previously had in the building. As part of the expansion deal, Muji extended its lease at the property for roughly another decade. Asking rents were in the high $40s per square foot.

"All we hear about is how bad the retail market is doing these days but this is an example of a retailer that is doing well and growing," said Chris Okada, the founder of real estate brokerage Okada & Company, who represented Muji in the deal. "They have great products, they're doing well internationally and they've made the right moves pushing sales heavily online and through social media."

Muji, which means "no-brand quality goods" in Japanese, has opened a handful of stores in the city in recent years to strong sales. Okada's firm also represents Muji in its retail leasing. With five stores in Manhattan, the company announced in April it will open an 8,000-square-foot location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in the coming months. Okada did not represent Muji in its Brooklyn deal.

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